The Billionaires Mistress (12 page)

“I have had this house for 3 years, and only know Mrs West; you are here for a couple of weeks and know everybody”.

She had just grinned back at him, giving a superior look.

“That my darling...........is because I put myself out there”, running as he had tried to swat her bottom, both of them laughing happily.

She had contacted her friends, telling them of her change of plans, telling them that she was not sure when or if, this thought sneaking into her mind, she would be resuming her trip. All of them had been so happy for her, some of her female friends Googling Ryan Trudeau and telling her that she was the luckiest girl in the world. While she had laughed at these comments, part of her had agreed.

As each day passed, she would look at him, kissing him tenderly, as he would kiss her back, each day her feelings for him growing stronger and stronger, wondering when those feelings would plateau and the two would grow bored with the other, the thought sending a small shiver down her spine.

It was the third week of her living in his country estate, and Jenna was looking forward to the week-end. As she had stirred, he had raised himself above her, gently looking down.

“Good morning beautiful” he had whispered, as she had purred softly beside him.

“Good morning to you too” she had smiled back, her fingers moving to slide softly down his side, feeling as he had jumped, his mouth curving into a smile.

“You are a bad bad girl Jen Long” he had groaned softly moving to kiss down her neck, along her shoulder as she had squirmed uncontrollably under him. Feeling her wriggling, he had chuckled evilly starting to tickle her, laughing as she had laughed back hysterically, begging him to stop.

“Ok.......who is the best...........who do you think is the best?” he had cried as breathlessly she had cried out.

“You...you are”, making him laugh even harder as she had bucked under him.

“And............” he had said still tickling her as she had writhed beneath him, trying to get away from his fingers.

“and..........and I love you” she had cried out, the words leaving her lips before she could stop them, as he had frozen, releasing her immediately.

Jenna had lain confused and shocked. She had just declared she loved him, the realisation that this was the truth flooding her instantly. As her eyes had looked into his stunned ones, her voice had been gentler as she has repeated.

“I love you”.

Ryan had run a hand though his hair, his voice shaky.

“Don’t even joke about that Jen”.

He had said, trying to laugh off the comment, as she had looked back up at him her features so serene.

“I just realised it Ryan...........I love you. I am completely and utterly in love with you” her face smiling up at him, a strange glow on her features. He however, had sat up, his legs swinging over the side of the bed, as he had looked away from her, his back stiff.

“No....no you don’t” coldness filling Jenna, who had moved over to kneel beside him on the bed.

“I didn’t plan this Ryan........I just ........do”

With that he had looked over at her, his face stern and hard.

“Then stop...we both know that is just some fanciful notion. You are mistaken.......and the sooner you realise that the better”.

Jenna had looked down at her lap, feeling as tears had inexplicably stung behind her eyes, hearing as he had given an impatient sound.

“Stop it Jenna, grow up........we both know what is going on here........both of us” rising quickly to his feet and grabbing his pyjama bottoms, pulling them on almost angrily.

With that he had moved to the bathroom, leaving Jenna on the bed, feeling as her heart had been torn from her chest. She had only just realised her own feelings, and all too soon they had been dashed against the rocks of his expectations.

Angrily rubbing away the tear that was winding down her face, she had scolded herself.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid Jenna........what did you expect?”

Ryan had always been so honest about his feelings on relationships. He and she had always known that one day their time together would end, both knowing that they would remain friends. Now with three little words she had put that in jeopardy, chastising herself for her own feelings.

As he had finally come out of the bathroom, freshly showered, the scent of his aftershave wafting over her, soothing her shattered nerves, he had looked over at Jenna, his eyes gentler now.

“I’m sorry Jenna” he had said softly.

“I know that you didn’t mean that........that it was me tickling you”.

Although his eyes had been pleading, and he had given her a way out of her words, she had looked back at him sadly.

“No.........I guess once you know..........you can’t unknow feelings Ryan”.

He had once more looked away from her, his body stiff as silently he had dressed. Finally, he had looked at her again.

“Nothing has changed Jenna, this is just some silly thing you are feeling, it will pass”

Holding back yet more tears, she had lowered her head once more, managing to pull a quivering smile onto her face.

“Sure Ryan” she had replied, her voice almost inaudible as she had nodded softly.

“If you say so”.

She had heard him move closer to her, giving her a smile.

“I’m sure, you will see. Nothing has really changed between us Jenna.... we are good”.

With that he had lifted her chin and dropped a small kiss on her lips, not commenting on her inability to look him in the eyes.

He had then moved from the bedroom, the sound of his car seeing Jenna slowly curl up and sink back into the sheets, the tears streaming down her stricken face, as she had felt her whole being filled with the loss, her heart breaking. While he determined that nothing had changed, Jenna knew that it had. Once those words were spoken, everything had changed, and his reaction had told her all she needed to know. She was in love with Ryan Trudeau, madly, deeply and completely, but he would never feel the same way for her. One day he would work her out of his system, and then it would be Jenna who would be the one who would have to pick up the pieces of her destroyed life.

Stuffing her hands into her mouth, she had sobbed again, hating herself. How could she be so stupid, he had always been so honest and she had been dumb enough to fall in love with him? She had never questioned that one day they would both work out the way they affected each other from their systems, mocking herself that she had never considered that her feelings would one day turn to love. Jenna knowing that the longer she stayed the stronger those feelings would become.

Finally, she had mustered up enough strength to leave the bed, slowly pulling her large back-pack from the walk-in closet, where it had sat so small in the huge space. Pulling her clothes out of the drawers, she had slowly packed the bag, leaving the cocktail dresses and accessories that he had bought for her in the short time they had been together inside the large space. Where she was going, there would be no need for such finery she had told herself, while realising that they would always be a reminder of him and the times they had spent dancing in each other’s arms, memories that she did not need at that moment.

As she had moved to remove the necklace from her neck, she had caught sight of her tear streaked image in the mirror, her hands dropping to pick up the pendant that sat at the end of the chain. More tears had made their way down her face, as the memory of the day, only the previous weekend, that he had bought the delicate piece of jewellery for her came back to haunt her.

He had wanted to buy her an expensive bracelet, the diamond tennis bracelet glittering brightly as she had looked horrified at him.

“And when will I wear that?”

She had demanded of him, laughing as he had looked bemused.

“But.......doesn’t every woman want one of these”.

He had asked in surprise, as she had snorted.

“Not ones who work for a living”.

About to walk away, he had grabbed her by the shoulders pulling her back to the window.

“OK.........we are not leaving here until I have successfully bought you something”.

Raising a hand as her mouth had opened in protestation.

“I will just end up buying the bracelet”.

He had said with determination, as Jenna had given him a look, rolling her eyes as she had again looked at the wonderful jewellery in the window.

The locket had instantly caught her attention. Love-heart shaped, it was gold with a large cornflower blue sapphire in the centre, Ryan admiring it also, seeing as it complimented the blue of her eyes. As he had placed it around her throat he had kissed the nape of her neck, Jenna giving him a warm smile, as her eyes had flashed brightly.

Dropping her fingers, she had left it where he had put it, not prepared to part with that one memory as she had turned to finish her packing.

Finally finished, she had moved to the shower, before making some phone calls and sending emails. With nothing left to do, Jenna had sat back her eyes looking at the clock, indecision filling her as to what to do.

Part of her wanted to leave without seeing him, without giving him the chance to change her mind, her heart knowing that she had to leave, had to get away before the hurt got any worse.

As she had sat on the end of the bed, her hands nervously twisting around each other, she had heard his car, groaning softly with the decision taken out of her hands. Hearing the door open Jenna had jumped slightly, holding back the tears for what she had to do next.

“Jen”.

His voice had travelled up the stairs, as she had moved towards the wide landing, slowly descending to meet him. Gulping she had taken in just how wonderful and handsome he looked, the smell of his aftershave reaching her and enveloping her senses.

He had watched her move towards him, sensing something in her, glad now that he had decided to drop by the house before moving to his meeting, her reaction to his rejection that morning to her ridiculous declaration of love worrying him. With a small frown he had taken in the tension within her as she had finally stopped before him.

“I didn’t expect you back so early”.

She had spoke softly, her lovely eyes not meeting his, as he had forced a smile on his handsome face.

“I just wanted to let you see these”.

He had smiled, pulling from his pocket a set of tickets.

“I thought that to celebrate our first month together, we might take a trip to California and shop till you can shop no more” his tone playful.

Jenna had felt the stinging tears at the back of her eyes once more, and she had fought hard to keep them from sliding over her eyelids

“Why?”

Was all she could manage her eyes fixed on the first class tickets, not seeing how he had frowned at her lack of enthusiasm and concern with the lack lustre tone of her voice.

“I can’t do this anymore”.

She had finally finished, before raising her eyes once more.

“I’m leaving ....... I can’t stay here anymore”

Ryan had moved back from her like he had been slapped, one hand moving to rack through his thick glossy black hair before he had turned his back on her.

“Is this about this morning Jenna? because I don’t appreciate your dramatics”.

He had bitten out and despite her best efforts she had felt the tears sliding down her cheek, her soft lips quivering slightly.

“I have to Ryan........I meant what I said.....and I know that you will never feel the same way...I can’t stay here to work this out of my system.......not the way I feel ...I have to leave”.

She had watched as his hands had moved to his hips as deep in thought he had stood motionless for what seemed like an eternity, Jenna hearing each tick of the grandfather clock as it moved in slow motion.

However, finally he had turned slowly to face her, her heart sinking seeing the composure in his features.